With no live games to bring to their fans, the Detroit Red Wings are seeking to bring back the memories of better days.
The club is billing Wednesday’s appearance at PB’s Sports Grille on 24301 Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores, Mich. as a Relive the Rivalry viewing party.
Former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty of Leamington will be on hand to once more share with the Wings faithful the might of March 26, 1997, Detroit’s brawl-filled overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche in which McCarty avenged Claude Lemieux’s attack on Kris Draper from the previous spring’s playoffs, and later scored the overtime winner.
Many on the team viewed that game as the night the Wings came together en route to the club’s first Stanley Cup title since 1954-55.
Festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the game set to be shown in its entirety beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Arguably the peak of the epic 1990s rivalry between the two clubs, the Red Wings and Avalanche combined to produce 11 goals and record 148 penalty minutes in this game, including a goalie fight between Detroit’s Mike Vernon and Colorado’s Patrick Roy.
Detroit beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche in a six-game Western Conference final that spring before sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers in the Cup final series.
McCarty will be on hand to mingle with patrons throughout the night.
The Grind Line member will also sign autographs for fans and engage in an interactive Q&A session about the memorable showdown that featured some of the greatest players in recent NHL history.
Hosted by Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Kal, this event is open to fans of all ages.
Viewing party attendees will have the chance to win autographed Red Wings memorabilia by taking part in an evening-long trivia contest.

Leafs on board
Five more NHL players, including three memb ers of the Toronto Maple Leafs, have committed to play in the Dec. 8 NHLPA charity hockey game at the WFCU Centre.
Defencemen Mike Komisarek and John-Michael Liles and forward Matthew Lombardi are the trio of Maple Leafs who will skate in the game.
It will be somewhat of a homecoming for Liles (Michigan State) and Komisarek (Michigan), both of whom played NCAA hockey just across the border.
Also committing to the game were Dallas Stars defenceman Trevor Daley, a former Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound, and Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford.
As well, one of the charities that will benefit from the game’s proceeds has been revealed.
It’s Sparkles From Above, a foundation formed in 2008 in conjunction with In Honour of The Ones We Love.
Sparkles assists children with cancer on their treatment journey through the
purchase of equipment and supplies at Windsor’s Met Hospital.
Following the game, all the sweaters worn by the players will be given away via a random seat draw.
The sweaters will be signed and given to the winners immediately after the game.
Tickets are $41.75 apiece or $137 for a family four pack and can be purchased at the
TekSavvy.com Box Office inside the WFCU Centre, or charged by phone at 1-866-969-WFCU.
Sixteen-seat luxury suite options are also available by calling 519-974-7979 ext. 4614 and asking for Lynne.
Convenience fees apply to all telephone and Internet orders.

Hall award
Former Spitfires winger Taylor Hall was named the American Hockey League Player of the Week Monday.
Hall had one goal and eight assists with a plus-six rating in three games for the
Oklahoma City Barons last week.
Hall, the No. 1 overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL draft, scored the game-winning goal and had two assists in a 6-4 win over the Texas Stars Wednesday, three assists in a 4-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers Saturday and three more assists in Sunday’s 7-2 win over the Checkers.
He joined the Barons on Oct. 30 after completing his recovery from shoulder surgery.
He has four goals and 11 assists in 10 games with Oklahoma City.
Hall even had time to go bowling.
He tweeted about setting a new personal best on the bowling lanes.
“I just bowled a 198 when I hardly ever bowl over 100,” Hall posted on Twitter.
“I’m amazed with myself.”

Hockey opener
The Herman Green Griffins won its WECSSAA hockey opener 4-3 Monday over Tecumseh Vista Academy.
James Fowler, Tyler Boughner, Riley Fry and Kyle Gauvin each had a goal for the Griffins.
Nathan Timmons scored two goals for Tecumseh and Aaron Dupuis added a single.
In other action, defending A/AA champs Brennan beat Essex 5-3.
Spencer Bouchat scored the winner while Ryan Perryman, Franco LaRosa, Nathan Zakoor and Caullin Rundle also scored for the Cardinals, who led 3-1 after the first period.
The Raiders had goals by Will Wuerch, Dylan Dent and Brady Lebouf.
Also, despite a four-goal night from Alex Simard, Lajeunesse fell 8-5 to Massey.
Conner Labute also had a goal for the Royals and Reid Seguin had two assists.
Leading the Mustangs were William Stadder with two goals and Anthony Kouzoukas with a goal and two assists.

Junior C
Essex 73’s goalie Trevor Wheaton made 20 saves in a 4-0 victory over the Wheatley Sharks in junior C hockey in Wheatley Monday.
Scott Bromley, Jordan Brohman, Daniel McIntyre and Jordan Ryan scored goals for first-place Essex, which has a four-point lead on Belle River.
Robbie Vrabel made 23 saves for the Sharks, who went 0-for-11 on the power play.
In Saturday games, Matthew Hebert, Corey Beaulieu and Jordan Ryan scored for Essex in a 3-1 win over Mooretown Saturday and Donnovan Plummer, Tyler Turner, James Shelton and Mark Manchurek had goals for Belle River in a 4-1 win over Kingsville.
The Comets lost Sunday 6-2 to the Flags. Zack Brown and Daniel Beaudoin scored for Kingsville.

Habs panel
Windsor Star columnist Bob Duff is part of a panel of writers from the Original Six NHL cities who will participate in a RDS series about the greatest players and moments in Montreal Canadiens history.
Bob Verdi, who joined the Chicago Tribune in 1967, is among the other panellists.
RDS, the French-Canadian version of TSN, will soon announce the airing of the 10-part series.

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